Hello Readers: And welcome to another day of chapters. I hope that you enjoyed yesterday's chapters and are glad that Matt and Gabby are no longer the only parents in this story; but I also know that we need to keep this story going, and we're going to do that by checking in with the newest parents in our story…and that would be Jay and Alex. So, here we go with doing just that.

But first: I want to just write a quick note about reality. In this story, I am portraying life in the NICU how I would love to have it; and that would be that parents get to stay at the hospital every night, with their babies (as long as they're there). But I know full well that isn't the reality everywhere, and I know this isn't always the case for everybody. But in my story, it is. Thanks again for reading.

Chapter One Hundred and Three
Checking In with the New Parents (All of Them)

He finally got Alex to fall asleep as they relaxed in their bed, and that was definitely something that she needed right now. As their kids were born premature, Alex just hasn't been able to sleep the best; heck, he hasn't been able to sleep the best. But now, they were both just holding each other close; and that was what let Alex sleep. Sure, they had to be careful when it came to how much they moved in bed; Alex did still have stitches in her after all. But at the end of the day, that didn't matter to Jay. But what did matter to him, was that his family is okay; and they most definitely are going to be okay, just as soon as they get out of the hospital together. But right now, Jay was fine with just holding Alex in his arms as they cuddled up to each other (and she got some rest). But right now, Jay wasn't just holding Alex in his arms; rather, he was also listening to music through his AirPods. At least, he was until his music was interrupted by someone calling him. "Matt Casey" Hearing that Matt was calling him; Jay turned his head to look at Alex.

He then sighed, because he didn't want to wake her up; then again, he also did want to speak to somebody while he was just sitting here. So, he decided to answer the call on his AirPods. "Hey, just give me a second okay? I need to try and sneak out of bed." Hearing the new father say that, the CEO (and his wife) both seemed to be confused. "And what do you mean by that exactly Jay?" Sighing as he heard Matt ask him that, Jay then proceeded to take a breath. "Just give me a minute please?" Hearing that the new father was a bit desperate to wait to speak to the both of them, the CEO and Deputy CEO both agreed to just wait to speak to him; that way, he would be able to sneak out of bed and not wake Alex up. However, that plan soon failed as that was exactly what happened the moment he moved. "Jay? Where are you going?" Turning his head as he heard Alex, Jay took a breath. "Sorry, I thought you were still asleep." Alex sighed. "I was, until you moved." That's when Jay proceeded to speak to their friends through his AirPods.

"Listen, just give me a second; I'll get Alex on the call with us, she just woke up." Alex was confused as she heard Jay say that, before turning her head to look up at her husband (and the love of her life). "Who's calling us?" Grabbing one of his AirPods from his ear, Jay smiled as he proceeded to give one of them to his beautiful wife (and mother of his children). "Here, how about you put this in your ear? Then you can find out for yourself." Alex sighed as she heard Jay tell her that, as she really hopes that it's not someone specific; and that was something that she made clear as she put the AirPod in her ear. "God, please let it not be Hank." Hearing Alex Say that, Matt then proceeded to speak to her. "I swear, if you ever think that I'm your father ever again; then you're going to loose half of your next paycheck." Gabby just laughed as she heard her husband say that. "Yeah, well that isn't happening; last time I checked, they do have two beautiful new children in the hospital. And that means that they don't have any other income other than their salaries."

Realizing that it was actually Matt and Gabby, Alex smiled as she was happy to hear their voices; especially since they've gone through this before, and they probably know what they're going through right now. "Sorry about that guys, I just woke up from a nap." Gabby felt bad then she heard Alex say that, as she knows how hard it is to sleep in the NICU; especially when your babies look so hopeless, just laying there in their incubators. "Hey, don't even think about apologizing about that Alex; I think I can speak for both me and Matt when I say that, you need to get whatever sleep you can get when you're in the NICU. You need to take it easy, and you need to relax. You need to make sure that you just concentrate on your health, especially your mental health." Matt then proceeded to add on. "In fact, Jay; I want you to call me when you're alone at some point so that we can talk, and I can give you some pointers that I wish I knew before I had to stay in the NICU for a while with the boys." Jay smiled when he heard Matt say that, as he appreciates the offer.

"Well, I love that offer Matt; and I think that I'm going to take you up on that offer, especially since I don't want to have PTSD from this time." Matt sighed when Jay said that, as that most definitely is something that he knows how to deal with. "Jay, believe me when I say this; I know for a fact that you aren't going to want to have to deal with that, especially since I still deal with it to this day." Hearing her husband say that, Gabby was surprised as that was (clearly) something that she didn't know about her husband. "Hey, why didn't you tell me that you had PTSD from our time in the NICU?" Matt sighed as Gabby asked him why he didn't tell her about that, before speaking to her. "Maybe we can talk about it when we're not on the phone with our friends?" Jay agreed with Matt when he said that, as that most definitely is something that he would appreciate. "I like that idea, then we don't need to hear about that." Matt agreed with his friend when he said that, well aware that wasn't something that he was going to want to her about. "My thoughts exactly."

And with that statement, Gabby decided to (finally) change the topic; that way, she can do something that she wanted to do with her friend. And that would be check in on how she is right now. "Now, for the reason why we really called you guys today; we want to check in with you guys. And of course, that means that we're going to check in on Alex first. How are you feeling mommy?" Alex let out a smile as she heard Gabby call her 'mommy' as that most definitely is something she is now, but it's not a title that she's hear somebody call her; including from her loving husband, which is something that she isn't happy about. Moving to slap her husband's chest, Alex turned her head to look at Jay. "Remind me why you haven't called me that yet? I don't remember hearing you call me that." Jay smiled as he heard Alex say that. "That's because you've been in-and-out of consciousness since you gave birth to the twins." Alex thought about it, and just agreed with her loving husband; after all, that makes a lot of sense now. She wants to remember it.

"Thanks for making sure that you do it so much that I can remember it, I really appreciate that." Smiling as he heard Alex say that, Jay wrapped his arm around her and then smiled as he turned his head and bent down to kiss her softly; and that most definitely is something that Alex wanted, as she loves the fact that they're holding each other close right now. "I think that was a really nice thing for you to do." Gabby agreed with Alex when she said that. "I think so too. Wow Halstead. Never knew you had such a soft side before. Last time I checked, you were really hard on the outside." Alex sighed as she heard her friend say that, as she's well aware of what she's talking about. "Trust me when I say that Gabby, but there's a reason for that. A reason that's related to his PTSD. He likes to keep his guard up sometimes." Matt sighed when he heard Alex say that. "I hope that you know that you can let your guard down with me Jay, because I can understand what you're going through." Jay agreed with Matt when he said that, well aware that was the case.

"Hey, of course I know that Matt; and I think we both know that I most definitely do let my guard down around you, because we do talk about our PTSD with each other." Matt agreed with his friend when he said that. "So, how's Max been since you've been in the hospital." Jay then thought about something and took a breath when he heard Matt say Max's name. After which, he turned his head and looked at the woman he loves. "Alex, I need to go take him out now that you're awake." Alex thought about it, and just sighed. "Of course, go ahead. I'll talk to Matt and Gabby alone then." Jay smiled as he heard Alex tell him that, before bending down so that he could kiss her softly; after which, he took things nice and slow with the woman he loves. "I love you." Alex agreed with Jay when he said that, smiling at her. Moving to get up shortly afterwards, Jay smiled as he proceeded to get up so that he could take Max out. "Listen, how about we add Alex's phone to the call? Then I can keep talking on my phone?" Matt agreed with his friend.

"You have to go out with Max?" Jay agreed with Matt as he said that, as that most definitely is something that he needs to do. "Yeah, and that's exactly what I'm going to do. So listen, I'm going to take him out; meanwhile, Gabby can call Alex and she can answer." After which, Jay proceeded to give Alex her phone (as well as her own AirPods). "Here, you can use these too." Alex agreed with Jay as he told her that, before grabbing her phone. "Thanks bae." Jay smiled as he heard Alex call him by his pet name while putting his iPhone in his pocket, as he just loves it so much; after which, he made his way over to their twins as he wanted to check on them before he went out. Looking at them, Jay smiled as he went ahead and stroked Olivia's forehead. "You okay baby girl? Daddy hates that you look this way, but you're going to be okay soon." Alex smiled as she heard Jay say that, glad that he just said that. "So adorable." Jay smiled as he heard Alex say that, before going to grab Max's leach. After which, he proceeded to look at his service dog ahead of leaving.

"C'mon Max, let's go outside." Alex agreed with Jay, smiling. "Can you add me to the call first Jay?" Alex said, while putting her AirPods into her ears; after which, Jay grabbed his phone from his pocket. "Give me a second." Going to unlock his iPhone, Jay smiled as he went ahead and proceeded to add Alex to the call by hitting her name in his phone 'Alex'; but before he left, he made sure to wait for her to answer. Going to pick up the call (using her AirPods), Alex smiled at her husband, who then went to merge the calls together, so that Alex can speak to Matt and Gabby (even while he's outside). "Okay, we're all connected now; and that means that we can talk." Gabby laughed as she heard Jay say that. "Just go outside Halstead, and make sure that dog of yours doesn't go in the NICU." Jay agreed with Gabby when she said that, before proceeding to walk out of their room so that he can go take Max outside. At the same time, Gabby proceeded to speak to Alex. "Did he finally leave Alex?" Alex laughed as she heard Gabby ask her said question.

"Oh, he finally left." Hearing the door close behind Jay, Alex smiled as she was finally alone for the first time in a while. "Finally, alone without a hovering husband." Jay laughed as he heard Alex say that, before commenting. "Yeah, because you don't like it when I hover and take care of you." Alex agreed with Jay when he said that, as that most definitely is the truth. "Oh, I most definitely do." Gabby then went to add on to what Alex just said. "I think that we can both agree on the fact that: every wife loves it when we're taken care of by our loving husbands. In fact, I'm in the midst of getting a nice massage by the man I love." Alex agreed with Gabby when she said that. "God, I wish I could be getting one too." Jay laughed as he heard Alex say that. "I promise, I'll give you a massage when I'm back." That's when Alex heard her friend in the background. "Alex finally wake up?" Jay agreed with Kelly as he asked him that. "Yeah, he did." Alex smiled as she heard her loving husband say that. "Jay, tell Kelly to wait for my call. He's going to join with Stella."

Jay agreed with his wife when she said that, smiling as he heard Alex say that. "Kelly, go to your room and Alex is going to call you. We're doing a conference call between me and Alex, and Matt and Gabby; we're all on our individual phones so that we can use our AirPods." Gabby agreed with Jay as he said that, as that most definitely is the case. "Yeah, Matt just added me to the call so that I can use my AirPods too. It's much easier to hear than on speakerphone." Alex agreed with Gabby as she said that, as that most definitely is the case. "I can already hear the difference between the speakerphone and your AirPods Gabby." Gabby agreed with Alex when she said that, before going ahead with adding Stella to the call. "I already added Stella to the call, so just wait for her to answer." That's when Stella spoke up. "Hey Gabby, what are you doing calling me at this time? I thought you were relaxing with your husband today at the hotel." Alex laughed as she heard Stella say that, before going to speak up. "Conference call Stella." Stella was shocked.

"Oh, I had no idea. Wait, who else is on the call?" Jay then spoke up. "The Halsteads, The Caseys, and You Guys so far. Are we going to add on anybody else?" Matt laughed. "No, I think we can leave it at the new parents." Alex agreed with Matt when he said that, as she most definitely does like that idea. "I think that's a great idea." Matt agreed with Alex when she said that, so that was the decision that they made. "Okay, then how about you sit down in your bed with Stella man? And then we can all keep talking."

Walking out of his and Stella's bathroom in their hospital room shortly after taking a post-workout shower (Kelly was just at the hospital gym), the new father smirked as he looked at his beautiful wife as she sat down in bed wearing nothing but one of his nice dress shirts; and even better, it was unbuttoned so that it revealed the fact that she wasn't wearing a bra. And let's just say that really turned the husband on, which is something that Stella already knew based on the way that her husband was looking at her. Smirking at him, Stella blushed as she couldn't wait for him to get back in bed with her. "How was your work out this morning?" Kelly smiled as Stella as she asked him that, continuing to make his way over to his bags. "The gym was nice." Stella smiled as she heard her husband say that, as she most definitely loves how he looks post workout; especially when he's still pumped up and looking really buff. "I can't wait until we're back home tomorrow." That's when Gabby reminded the new mom that she was still on the phone.

"Hey Stella, I want to remind you that me and Matt are still on the phone as you speak like that." Jay then went to add on. "As am I as I take Max out to the washroom." Stella agreed with their friends as they said that, well aware that was the case. "Sorry guys." Going to grab his phone (and AirPods), Kelly smiled as he turned to look at his beautiful wife. "How about you add me to the phone? I can only imagine that everybody is using their own phone." Stella agreed with Kelly when he said that. "Yeah, we are since it makes it easier to hear things." Stella then proceeded to go ahead and add her loving husband to the call, which Kelly was happy about; after which, he grabbed his AirPods and went to put them in his ears. Answering his wife's call shortly afterwards, he smiled as he spoke to her. "Can you hear me?" Stella agreed with her husband. "Of course, I can idiot." Stella then went to merge the call that she just started with Kelly, before going ahead with merging their call with the one that had all of their friends on right now. "Hey guys, I just added Kelly."

Matt agreed with his best friend's wife as she told them that, before going ahead with speaking to Kelly. "Hey man, how's the hospital gym there; just in case I need to use it when Gabby gives birth." Gabby laughed as she heard Matt say that. "Yeah, we aren't going to be there long enough. Heck, I'm even thinking about doing a home birth." And let's just say that Matt shut that down right away. "Okay, we're going to have to talk about that too, other than the PTSD that I still have from our time in the NICU with the boys; because I can already tell you this, that you are not doing a home birth. And I don't care what you want to do, because I have my reasons." Kelly could just tell why that was the case, as he's had some conversations about this with Matt already. "Related to how Gabby gave birth to Matteo and Noah?" Matt sighed as he heard Kelly ask him that, as that most definitely was the case. "Got that right." Gabby agreed with her husband as he said that, before speaking to him (both in person, and through the phone call that they're having).

"Okay, we can talk about that; just know that I already understand, but I still want to talk about that. Remember our deal, we always talk about PTSD when you tell me about some that you have." Matt agreed with his wife as she said that. "I know." Going to put his boxers on underneath his towel, Kelly smirked as he looked at his wife. "Or we can talk about it while we're on the phone together? We can do it as friends." Matt sighed when he heard his best friend offer that, as he thinks it's a nice offer; but it's not something that he wants to do. "Unfortunately, this isn't a time where we can talk about PTSD as friends; and that's due to the fact that it's related to decisions that me and Gabby have to make, decisions that we need to make as husband and wife without others' input." Stella agreed with Matt when he said that, well aware that was the case. "Well, that makes sense. And I agree with Matt, because that's something that makes a lot of sense." Kelly agreed with his wife as she said that, before going to grab some of his deodorant.

And let's just say that him putting some deodorant on was a really nice sight for Stella, as it meant that his gorgeous muscles flexed for her; muscles that are really sexy, especially when they're wrapped around her in bed. Turning to look at his wife as he finished with his deodorant (and setting it down), Kelly smirked due to the fact that he knew that she was enjoying it. "You like that, don't you Stella?" Stella laughed as she heard Kelly say that, before shaking her head. "Shut up Kelly, nobody wants to hear that from you." Matt agreed with Stella when she said that, as he knew that she was talking about. "I agree with you Stella, I do not want to hear flirting in between you guys." Kelly was shocked that his friend even had the audacity to say that. "And you think that we want to hear it between you guys?" Gabby agreed with Kelly when he said that. "Sorry baby, but your friend has a point." Jay then agreed with both of his friends. "Oh, he most definitely has a point. I mean, you guys are always all over each other when we were still living with you guys."

Gabby agreed with Jay when he said that. "Hormones." Stella laughed as she heard Gabby say that, as she wasn't going to let her friend get away with that. "Oh hello no, you aren't blaming all of that on hormones alone." Gabby snickered as she heard her best friend tell her that, as that most definitely is something that she understands why she's saying it. "Okay, I understand." Stella agreed with Gabby as she said that, glad that she understands. "So, you guys still at the hotel?" Matt sighed when Stella asked them whether they were still at the hotel. "Had some PTSD, didn't want to have it anywhere other than at home." Kelly agreed with his best friend when he said that, hating that he had PTSD. "I'm sorry about that man." Matt agreed with Kelly as he said that, well aware that he was sorry about it. "I know you are, but we're dealing with it thanks to Andy." Kelly agreed with Matt as he said that, before (finally) making his way over to Stella so that they can relax in bed with each other; that way, he can hold his wife in his arms as they relax in bed.

But first, he walked over to his boys, Kyle, and Stephen. "By the way, did we send you guys a picture of the boys yet?" Gabby laughed as she heard Kelly ask them that, as she was going to bring that topic up at some point. "I was actually about to bring that topic up, because I want to have a nice picture of my godsons!" Kelly agreed with Gabby as she said that, before setting his phone down on his side table charger; after which, he went to take off his towel so that he was just wearing his boxers. And let's just say that Stella was really happy that he just did that, because her husband is really hot. But before she could touch him, Kelly had something else to do, which was take a picture of their sons for their best friends. Making his way over to the cribs, Kelly smiled as he looked down at Kyle and Stephen. "Say cheese boys." Stella laughed as she heard her husband say that, before watching as he took a picture of their twins; after which, he went ahead and looked at them. "Well, now that most definitely is a nice picture." Stella smiled at her man.

"Can you just send it to our friends, before we hear some complaints?" Gabby was not happy as she heard her best friend say that. "HEY!" Stella then went to speak to her. "Oh, shut up, we both know that you were going to complain until we sent you a picture of Kyle and Stephen." Gabby thought about it, as did her husband, who then made a comment. "Babe, we both know that's the truth." Laughing a bit as he heard Matt say that, Kelly agreed. "If that isn't the truth." Gabby then spoke up. "Hey Kelly, how about you shut up before we don't offer to babysit the boys on New Years' Eve so that you can celebrate your first wedding anniversary with your wife!" Jay then went to speak up. "I was actually going to ask you to…" Kelly put a stop to that right away. "Oh hell no Halstead, you have your brother in Los Angeles; I have no family other than Matt, whom we all know is my brother." Matt agreed with Kelly when he said that, as that most definitely is the case. "Oh, we all know that Kelly." Kelly agreed with his best friend, smirking as he looked at his wife.

The wife that he glad that he was finally on his way back to bed so that he can join her (and hold her in bed), which is what she wants him to do anyways; but on his way, he went ahead and sent the picture that he just took of the twins to all of their friends (including Jay, Alex, Will, and Natalie). "I sent a copy to the firehouse too." Stella agreed with her husband when he said that, glad that was the case. "Can't wait to get all of the responses that we get from them." Gabby laughed as she heard Stella say that. "Make sure that you turn the volume down on your phone when we speak to Herrmann, because we all know that he's going to yell a bit." All of the (former) firefighters laughed, agreeing with the (former) paramedic-turned-Deputy CEO when she said that; as did the two former police officers who where just down the hall from the Severides, as they just had their children as well. "So, how are you feeling Stella?" Stella sighed when Alex asked her that, as she knew that her response was not going to be something she wants to hear.

"I think that it'd be best if that's a topic that we don't talk about, as our scenarios aren't the same; if that makes sense." Hearing what Stella was trying to tell his wife (even from outside with Max), Jay spoke up. "Alex, I will talk to you when I'm back okay? I know what Stella is trying to say, and I think that you just need to trust me right now." Clearly hearing something in her husband's voice (that only she can recognize), Alex decided to drop the topic that she was trying to push at the moment. "Of course, that makes sense." Jay agreed with Alex as she said that, glad that she just agreed to drop the topic; especially since he knows that he's going to need to be there, holding her in his arms as they talk about this. And that's when Matt decided to change the topic, as he wanted to get some information from the dads; after all, Gabby was going to be giving birth there in the future. "So, what's the food like there? Just asking for a friend." Gabby laughed as she heard Matt say that, well aware that he was really asking for himself.

And Kelly knew that as well, so he went to tell Matt. "I would definitely get the burger, as that was good." Jay agreed with Kelly when he said that, as he had that late last night. "The cafeteria isn't that bad either, it was nice even in the middle of the night. And there's a nice spot where you can take Andy out right down the hall, through a special NICU exit that they have." Matt agreed with Jay when he said that, glad that was the case. "Thanks for letting me know about that Jay." Jay agreed with his friend, before going to offer something. "We'll have to talk sometime about how life is when you have a service dog in the NICU." Kelly agreed with Jay when he said that, as he thought that was going to be a great idea for Matt. "I think that'll be something that Matt really appreciates Jay." Jay agreed with Kelly. "I thought the same thing." Kelly laughed as he heard Jay said that, before just continuing to speak to all of their friends today; while also taking it easy with his beautiful wife, just 19 days after she gave birth to their sons Kyle and Andrew.

Meanwhile, Jay took Max out; ahead of him going back inside, so that he can spend time with Alex (and they talk to each other) as he knew that she was still worried about their children right now.